Home > Company > Newsletter Archive > February 20, 2008
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Final Draft, Inc. and the McFarlane Group, Inc., publishers of Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat and ScriptE software have signed an FCF (file converter file) Format License Agreement. The partnership will allow both Save the Cat and ScriptE to import Final Draft files. This is the first step in what will be a productive partnership between Final Draft, Inc. and Blake Snyder. To learn more about Blake Snyder and his publications, Visit: www.blakesnyder.com |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 In The Classroom – Adam WatsteinAdam is a longtime friend of the Final Draft family, having contributed to our Final Draft K12 Teacher's Workbook. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Adam spent several years in Los Angeles teaching screenwriting at John Marshall High School. Adam’s dedication to using visual storytelling to teach all disciplines did not go unnoticed; last year, he and his family headed East where Adam now teaches at the Ethical Culture Fieldstone School. Adam has helped his students to launch Eagle TV - a monthly, student-run news show that focuses on events, achievements, and daily life at ECFS. Students  produce segments and perform in all areas of news production; in addition, they write scripts (using Final Draft scriptwriting software), shoot stand-ups, perform voice-overs and edit. Anchors from each division introduce their segments; upper school students anchor the entire show. Participating upper school students meet as a club, while participating middle school students are in a class dedicating to learning the fundamentals of broadcast journalism.We salute Adam and his co-advisor, Jay Trevorrow, for using the tools of today to foster the intellects and imaginations of tomorrow. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Final Draft Signs New Academic Distribution Deal Final Draft, Inc. recently signed a deal that will bring Final Draft products to educators in Europe and the UK. Having an established relationship for 16 years with the Douglas Stewart Company in the U.S., it was a natural step to join forces with their sister company, Douglas Stewart EDU, in Europe and the UK. With warehouses across the continent and expansive knowledge of the European academic frontier, Final Draft software and products are in good hands. DS EDU provides the resources and relationships plus 50 years of global experience in the sales, marketing and distribution of products to the educational reseller channel, which in turn sells to the primary-, secondary- and higher-ed markets. Final Draft Hosts EU Reseller Partners This February, Final Draft will host the founders of two UK-based Final Draft partners. Rinaldo Quacquarini, founder, The Screenwriter’s Store (London) and Francois Farrugia, founder, Moviesoft (Dublin) will be making their way to L.A. where they will be welcomed with open arms. While both companies serve the greater EU region, they offer unique specialties and areas of saturation with the specific needs of the screenwriter and filmmaker. The Screenwriter’s Store was launched by Quacquarini in 1996 and has grown to become Europe’s largest supplier of filmmaking software. Francois Farrugia founded Moviesoft in 2001. Since then it has become a company specializing in the sales of pre-production software and has developed vast expertise in screenwriting and film production software. In 2006, Moviesoft expanded its European presence and opened offices in London and Dublin to augment its European-continent customers. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Final Draft Sponsors the Neighborhood Youth Association Founded in 1906 by the Episocpal Diocese of Los Angeles, the Neighborhood Youth Association (NYA) has been a non-sectarian non-profit serving low-income, troubled youth and families. Having worked with high-risk youth in past years, NYA has redirected its program to address education as the key to an individual's success. Neighborhood Youth Association's facility is located in Mar Vista, California. This facility offers after-school enrichment activities for elementary, middle and high school students. The Venice site, Las Doradas Children's Center, is a licensed pre-school for 2 to 5 year-olds. NYA’s top priority is academics throughout the year, with homework first during the school year and educational enrichment in summer. NYA has designed their educational enhancement program, Personal Best, to ensure that every young person become the best that he or she will be. Working intensively with youth from low-income families in Venice and Mar Vista, Personal Best assures its students the ability to achieve a high school diploma and go on to post-secondary education or training; the program serves youths from ages 5 through 18, and offers classes and activities for parents. Donations for the Final Draft Neighborhood Youth Association partnership were provided by Final Draft’s Global Voices initiative, created to connect with organizations and projects working to better their communities through digital storytelling. Final Draft works with educators and leaders of community organizations, whose sole purpose is to use digital storytelling to improve overall literacy rates, expand English literacy among English-language learners, strengthen emotional intelligence, build self-esteem, and promote tolerance and acceptance. For further information about NYA, Visit: www.nyayouth.org |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 CampusTech has served the education market for over 20 years and is the United States' fastest-growing marketing, merchandising, and media company focusing on the education community. Campus Tech offers a comprehensive product line with thousands of products from hundreds of manufacturers including Final Draft, Microsoft, Adobe/Macromedia, AVID, Sony, Mindjet, Thompson ISI Researchsoft, SPSS, Symantec, ToonBoom and more.Knowledge, relationships, and service are the pillars of Campus Tech’s corporate philosophy. Campus Tech’s team offers superior service which stems from expert product knowledge, fulfillment expertise, and establishing and maintaining strong industry relationships while simultaneously working to understand and meet the needs of Academic buyers. "CampusTech is dedicated to providing our students and teachers with the best possible academic solutions to aid them in achieving success" states Susan Hogan, Campus Tech’s VP of Sales and Product Marketing. This experience translates into the kind of service that comes from knowing our customers, their needs, timing, and budget constraints. It means helping customers choose the right version of a particular product, or the right licensing program; it means ensuring that purchases are delivered exactly where and when you need it; it means advising customers about the most cost-effective way to purchase a particular product or license; and it means being there after a purchase has been made, to fix any problems, answer questions, and offer helpful information. To further CampusTech's competitive advantage, most of their products are offered at significantly lower education and non-profit discount prices - as much as up to 80% off retail prices, and all of their discounted products are available via its ecommerce site (www.campustech.com) 24/7. To purchase Final Draft products at substantial savings, Visit: www.campustech.com/student-brand/Final-Draft/FNLD.html |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Scenarios USAA 501(c)3 non profit organization, Scenarios USA uses writing and filmmaking to foster youth leadership, advocacy, and self-expression in under-served teens. Scenarios USA asks teens to write about the issues that shape their lives for the annual "What's the REAL DEAL?" writing contest, and thousands have responded with their raw and revealing insights. The winning writers are partnered with some of Hollywood's finest filmmakers to transform their stories into award-winning short films. Fifteen million people a year watch the Scenarios USA films at film festivals, on television, and in high schools nationwide. Scenarios USA believes that by valuing youth and listening to their opinions we can have an impact on promoting healthy relationships and lowering the rate of HIV, STDs, and pregnancy among teens. The history of the Scenarios project is a story of global partnership. Scenarios USA replicates and builds on the successes of Scenarios from the Sahel. In an effort to improve their understanding of what the youth knew about HIV/AIDS and where the system had failed them, a French AIDS prevention organization sponsored a film contest for young people in 1993, called 3000 Scenarios Against a Virus. Prominent filmmakers, actors, and production companies joined forces and produced 30 films, which reached a wide audience in France.  In February 1998, the African Scenarios aired during television coverage of the World Cup and likely reached 100 million Africans.Watch this month’s winner of Writers On The Verge – 15-year-old screenwriter Nicole Zepeda’s Nightmare on AIDS street. To view this video, Visit: www.finaldraft.com/ontheverge |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 Big Break Contest The 2008 Big Break Contest opened for entries February 1st. Big Break is an annual, global screenwriting contest designed to support emerging creative talent. Big Break rewards screenwriters with cash, prizes and A-list executive meetings. Winners and finalists alike have had their screenplays optioned and produced and have secured high-profile representation as well as lucrative writing deals. Since its inception in 2000, Big Break has awarded screenwriters with over $100,000 in cash and prizes and invaluable industry exposure. A panel of notable industry professionals conducts the final judging. The objectives are to bring recognition to promising screenwriters across the globe, to pave the way for the next generation of film artists, and to create inroads into an increasingly impenetrable industry. Robert Frisbee, 2007's first-place winner, has already secured representation with Benderspink and generated attention throughout the industry. To enter for your Big Break, Visit: www.finaldraft.com/bigbreak Out of the Computer / Into The Industry A seminar dedicated to setting the screenwriter's career on a successful track, brought to you by Final Draft and ScriptShark on March 8, 2008 in New York City. Learn how to transition from aspiring writer to working professional by understanding the inner-workings of the industry, and pitching, positioning, and promoting yourself and your screenplay effectively. Topics and events will include: Understanding the entertainment universe: How to navigate the industry's tough realities and harsh truths; Defining the writer: What can you expect, and where should you belong?; Networking lunch; Extended Pitch Practice Session; Professional panel of established industry executives to answer your questions. The seminar will be led by Lee Zahavi Jessup, a veteran of film development and production, who has worked with such companies as Tapestry Films, HBO Pictures, Trimark, Gemstone Entertainment and others. She currently serves as the director of ScriptShark.com. To register, Visit: www.scriptshark.com/NYseminar.cfm Robert McKee Announces 2008 Seminar Dates Portrayed in the Oscar®-nominated hit Adaptation, featured in Vanity Fair's Hollywood Issue, interviewed by 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon for CBS News' Sunday Morning Academy Awards Special, and the subject of an upcoming feature film documentary on his life and career, Robert McKee's sold-out Story Seminars teach the essential principles of screenwriting and story design that studios, production companies, and publishers demand from their writers. Find out why Robert McKee's Story Seminar has been taken by over 45,000 students worldwide, including many of today's top screenwriters, TV writers, producers, directors and novelists such as Peter Jackson, Akiva Goldsman, Andrew Stanton, Steven Pressfield, Zak Penn, Steve Koren, Drew Barrymore, Joel Schumacher, Ed Burns, Drew Carey, and writers of Grey's Anatomy, Ratatouille, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, CSI, Spelling Bee, Law & Order, The Da Vinci Code, The Daily Show, The Simpsons Movie, plus many others. As The New York Times said, “About the only Hollywood notable not to have taken STORY is Steven Spielberg.” Upcoming Dates: March 7-9, 2008 – Los Angeles; March 28-30, 2008 – New York; April 19-21, 2008 – London Story; April 24-27, 2008 – London Genre. For more information call 888 676 2533 or, Visit: www.McKeeStory.com The Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA The Professional Program in Screenwriting is the only certificate screenwriting program that has oversight by the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, and it is the only viable alternative to the UCLA M.F.A. screenwriting program. The Professional Program stresses the theory and craft of professional screenwriting without the critical studies seminars and related electives that are required to obtain a degree. The goal of this graduate-level program, which takes place over three academic quarters, is for the student to start and complete two original feature-length screenplays. The program begins in October 2008 and will come to a close in June 2009. Each student attends two classes per week -- a lecture class and a screenwriting workshop. The lecture and workshops are taught by UCLA graduate faculty, as well as professional screenwriters. An undergraduate degree in any field will be considered for admission. For more information, Visit: http://www.filmprograms.ucla.edu/screenwriting.htm CineStory CineStory is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing new screenwriters with unprecedented access to industry professionals -- producers, managers, agents, executives, and professional writers -- whose goal is to help growing writers advance their craft and careers. The CineStory Screenwriting Awards competition is your chance to win the relationships and advice you need to succeed. Winners receive both grants and the year-long CineStory Mentorship Program. The CineStory Retreat is an intimate intensive with professionals at our exclusive Retreat Center where you'll strengthen your script with in-depth feedback, get your questions on the industry answered, build working relationships within the film industry, and discover your path to becoming a true working writer. Summer Camp offers courses taught by industry pros to develop skills and tools you can rely on for the rest of your career. For details, Visit: www.CineStory.org Aaron Mendelsohn Script Consulting Don't "fade in" to your screenwriting career... smash cut to it! Go beyond script analysis, get expert career consultation from a working Hollywood screenwriter. Aaron graduated from UCLA with a degree in Screenwriting in 1988. He has been working as a professional screenwriter in Hollywood for over 13 years. He made his feature film debut by co-writing the Disney family film Air Bud, which went on to become one of the most successful independently-financed films of all time and has, to date, sired five sequels. Aaron's consulting services include script development from concept to final draft, expert script, character and scene analysis, and career guidance and strategic planning. Consulting services take place via phone or, for Los Angeles residents, in person. Rates are competitive and availability is limited. Mention Final Draft and receive a 20% discount! For more information, Visit: www.aaronmendelsohn.com The Dialogue Series "Learning From the Masters" is a groundbreaking interview series that goes behind the scenes of the fascinating craft of screenwriting. In these 70-90 minute in-depth discussions, more than two dozen of today's most successful screenwriters share their work habits, methods and inspirations, secrets of the trade, business advice and eye-opening stories from life in the trenches of the film industry. Industry luminaries include Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise), the Farrelly Brothers (There’s Something About Mary), and Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel (Parenthood). Each screenwriter discusses his or her filmography in great detail and breaks down the mechanics of one favorite scene from their produced work. The series is hosted by industry veteran and film fanatic Mike Deluca at theOffice in Santa Monica. Visit: www.thedialogueseries.com |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© 2008 Final Draft, Inc. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
